Guest Post: Are You Concerned about Your Drinking Water? Here’s a Suggestion

In the western world, we think ourselves lucky that we can access water whenever we want. And don’t get me wrong, no-one’s going to argue that having H2O on tap is anything but a good thing. However, the safety of our tap water has come under question on numerous occasions.

Impurities and Contaminants in our Drinking Water

A recent Reuters examination of lead testing results across America found almost 3,000 areas with poisoning rates higher than Flint, Michigan. The city of Flint made headlines worldwide in 2015 due to reports of lead in its drinking water – but it turns out there are cities battling far greater problems. Incidentally, residents of Flint are still advised to use filtered water, two years after the crisis flared.

It should be noted that the lead doesn’t always come from water. Legacy lead is present in paint and plumbing, in yards and playgrounds – but the danger of lead leaching from pipes and into the water supply is a very real one. What’s more, all sorts of impurities and contaminants can crop up in our tap water without us knowing. Like Flint, the small community of San Lucas is currently enduring water restrictions after wells supplying drinking water were shown to have elevated levels of nitrates. Nitrate contamination is mainly attributed to fertilizers leaching through the soil into groundwater. For now, the citizens of San Lucas are hydrating with bottled water.

In the UK, It’s a £30 Billion Problem

In the UK, the problem isn’t any less severe. Major types of oestrogen have been found in the water supply including estradiol, estriol, estrone and the synthetic alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2). These unwanted hormones find their way into the public water supply from medications such as the oral contraceptive pill, and severely disrupt the human endocrine system.

Steroidal oestrogens and other contaminants with anti-androgenic properties in effluents from wastewater treatment works have also contributed to widespread sexual disruption in fish living in English rivers. Many fish, as a consequence, have been discovered to have both male and female sexual organs.

In 2012, it was estimated that the UK would have to spend £30 billion to purify the country’s water system due to the toxic impact of synthetic hormones from contraceptives. (In Britain, over 2.5 million women use birth control.) Needless to say, water and pharmaceutical companies disputed the science involved, contradicting the assertions of environmental researchers. Perhaps they were worried about having to contribute.

Medication in our Drinking Water: The Truth

At the risk of trafficking in doom and gloom, studies throughout Europe and the US have also turned up all sorts of medication in our drinking water, including ACE inhibitors (a heart drug), antidepressants, blood thinners, antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs and painkillers. The impact of consuming these aquatic pollutants over the long term could be seriously troubling. Medical researchers are cognizant of the effects of one-off prescribed doses, but no long-term study has analyzed the effects of continuous consumption of this cocktail of potentially harmful pharmaceuticals.

The danger of drinking tap water isn’t something we tend to hear a lot about, unless there’s a widespread epidemic like the one witnessed in Flint. But some politicians are on record as saying a change is necessary. Austrian MEP (Member of European Parliament) Richard Seeber said in 2013 that “our waters are unfortunately increasingly burdened with pharmaceuticals.”

Buying bottled water might seem like the logical solution, but since bottled water is often taken from the municipal water supply, or from natural sources that may be contaminated with the same substances through the soil into which they drain, it makes for a poor workaround.

So What is the Solution? Here is One Option

The best bet is to invest in a high-quality water filter that is scientifically proven to remove pollutants. One such filter is the Energy Plus. This advanced water purification system sits under your sink and gives you access to clean water through the tap. In 2015, the Energy Plus underwent extensive testing by the University of Edinburgh’s Engineering Department, who confirmed its ability to remove fluoride, toxic heavy metals and organic contaminants such as estradiol and chlorophenol. In fact, the researchers determined that all organic contaminants were reduced to below the level at which they could be detected.

The Energy Plus relies on a unique four-stage filter system. While filters one and two give high levels of pollutant removal, filters three and four energize and alkalize the water using advanced bioceramics – combinations of natural minerals. The end product is clean-tasting water with an elevated pH. This kind of water is known as alkaline water, or hydrogen-rich water. Alkaline water from the Energy Plus benefits from improved structure, absorbability and energy, in addition to extensive purification. The water is also enhanced by increased levels of minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium.

You’ll have seen alkaline water products popping up all over the place, but none of them offer the same level of contaminant removal as the Energy Plus, which is both easy to install and simple to maintain. Once the filter is set up, you can use the water for cooking, hot and cold drinks and for cleaning vegetables. The filters must be replaced on an annual basis.

All of us deserve to drink water as nature intended – water that quenches our thirst, energizes our muscles and aids our digestion. Alkaline water produced by the Energy Plus filter does all this and more. If you want to learn more about this under-sink water filter, or any other water purification products, you can find more information here.

About the author: This guest blog was provided by Water for Health, a family-run hydration and natural health supplement store in Central Scotland. Since 2007, Water for Health have provided many happy customers with detox supplements, fish oils, green superfood powders and alkaline water filters, among other products. Their continued aim is to encourage people to make informed choices that will enhance their well-being.